I’m not looking to help Jim Webb out here in his senatorial aspirations. I want George Allen reelected to the Senate. But George Allen’s staff could help me out a little. They’re keeping on this Webb-misogynist line of attack (See Corner yesterday afternoon for more.). I can’t imagine how it’s a good idea.

Senators Collins, Dole, Hutchison & Murkowski Applaud

Women’s Contributions at Service Academies and in Military

Webb’s Disrespectful Comments Toward Women Criticized

Arlington, VA – Several of Senator George Allen’s female colleagues in the U.S. Senate spoke out today about the central ideas in James Webb’s article for the Washingtonian magazine entitled “Women Can’t Fight”.  Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) offered statements praising the strong role women have played at our service academies and within our armed forces.

Yesterday, five female graduates of the U.S. Naval Academy lead a press conference where they said Webb’s article helped “foster an air of hostility and harassment for them” at the academy. In his article, Webb wrote that the academy’s dormitory “is a horny woman’s dream” and that he “never met a woman, including the dozens of female midshipmen [he] encountered during [his] recent semester as a professor at the Naval Academy, whom [he] would trust to provide those men with combat leadership.” (Bob Lewis, “Female Naval Academy grads say Webb column caused harassment,” The Associated Press, September 13, 2006; pg. 277 &148, “Women Can’t Fight,” Washingtonian Magazine, November 1979)

Senator Susan Collins of Maine, Chairwoman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee as well as a member of the Armed Services Committee, said, “Any notion that women should not attend U.S. military academies is ill conceived.  Today, our armed forces benefit from the strength and skills of women who can now serve in capacities from combat pilots to commanders of Navy ships.  The importance of the contributions that women make to our national security should not be underestimated.

“We are perhaps best served by the adage that some of a woman’s strength comes not ‘in spite’ of being a woman, but ‘because’ she is a woman.”

Senator Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina, Chairwoman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) and member of the Armed Services Committee, said, “I’m very proud of the men AND women of our Armed Services and I appreciate what they do each day to protect our freedom.  Their commitment and desire to serve our country should be honored and not subject to undue degradation.   Jim Webb’s outrageous comments demonstrate a profound lack of judgment and are very disrespectful to women.”   

Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas, Vice-Chairwoman of the Senate Republican Conference and member of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, said, “As a proud member of the United States Military Academy Board of Visitors, I know first-hand that the academies develop leadership skills and strong character.  Opening the academies to women has led to a stronger military and provided women a pathway to senior leadership positions.  I stand with my friend George Allen who wants to ensure women at our military academies receive the respect they deserve.”

Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who serves with Senator Allen on the Foreign Relations Committee, said, “With more than 1.4 million women honorably serving in active duty and an additional 444,000 dedicating themselves to service in the Reserve and Guard, we ought to be lauding the contributions women bring to the military as well as the service academies and not diminishing the value of their commitment simply because of gender.  In the Senate, George Allen has been a great advocate for the military community – both women and men alike.”

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Paid for by Friends of George Allen

Contrary to the e-mail I received from an Allen staffer yesterday, this press release directly points to the “ideas” in a Washingtonian magazine article he wrote almost 30 years ago. Allen’s campaign put the article up on their website.Mistake. It’s a compelling piece whose "central ideas" stand the test of time – and are of the type we’re still dealing with. Concerns about issues revolving around women in the military and in combat – standards (! No small thing), living condictions… are legitimate and should not be dismissed, which is the impression Allen’s camp is certainly giving me that he’s inclined to do if he thinks this magazine piece is such a big deal. Great way to keep a few Virginia vets home on Election Day.